JOHANNESBURG - In response to warnings
that a worsening humanitarian crisis is on the horizon in southern Africa
next year, the international donor community has contributed vital funds
to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) that will help save millions of lives
across the region in the coming months.

LUSAKA, Dec 25, 2002 (Xinhua via COMTEX)
-- Zambia has called for a tripartite meeting with Rwanda and the United
Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) on the presence of the Rwandan
ex-combatants in Zambia and their repatriation back home, according to
the Daily Mail on Wednesday.

The Department for International Development
Clare Short today announced a further £30 million contribution to meet
emergency assistance in Africa. £15m of the contribution will go to meeting
emergency needs in Ethiopia and the other £15 million will be put to humanitarian
assistance and recovery programmes across southern Africa.

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) issues periodic emergencies when population groups are now, or will soon become, extremely food insecure, unable to meet their consumption needs. These groups have already exhausted their strategies for acquiring food and face imminent famine.

The Federation's mission is to improve
the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It
is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers
are active in 178 countries. For more information: www.ifrc.org

JOHANNESBURG, 23 Dec 2002 (IRIN) -
With about three million Zambians identified as needing food aid up to
March 2003, concern has been expressed at the worsening nutritional status
of children in the country.